Post Concussion Syndrome

Post concussion syndrome (PCS) can last for weeks, months, or even years. It is a combination of physical, emotional, and cognitive disorders caused by mild to moderate brain injury. The symptoms can come and go unpredictably leaving the victim and loved ones confused and in turmoil. PCS is often misdiagnosed leading to even more misunderstanding, and sometimes to inappropriate treatment for disorders which the patient does not have.

PCS is known by many names including:

Post concussive syndrome

Post traumatic syndrome

Traumatic head syndrome

Traumatic dephalgia

Chronic brain syndrome

Post brain injury syndrome

Symptoms

The symptoms of PCS are elusive. Some people experience severe and constant symptoms, while for others the effects may come and go. PCS may manifest as primarily emotional and behavioral changes, leading to a misdiagnosis of psychiatric disorder and inappropriate medications which do not address the root cause. For other victims the symptoms can be physical, resulting in pain and fatigue. Each person is affected differently.

Cognitive symptoms:

Foggy thinking

Difficulty concentrating

Memory problems

Amnesia

Confusion

Periods of mental dullness

Impaired attention

Emotional/behavioral symptoms:

Extreme mood swings

Unexplained anger

Frustration

Irritability

Depression

Anxiety

Restlessness

Loss of self-confidence

Low self-esteem

Personality changes

Physical symptoms:

Sleep disorders

Fatigue

Exhaustion

Weakness

Headaches

Ringing ears

Dizziness

Nausea and/or vomiting

Balance problems

Difficulty with controlled movements

Vision problems

Sensitivity to light

Hearing problems

Sensitivity to noise

Decrease or change in sense of taste

Decrease or change in sense of smell

Loss of libido and/or sexual dysfunction

PCS controversy

Post concussion syndrome is not a new discovery, but the medical community has been in disagreement over its cause for decades. The history of PCS goes back at least to the 1800’s when train wrecks were a common cause of brain injury. At that time it was believed to be caused y physical assault to the brain. Later, when psychiatry was young and newly popular, doctors began to think that it was psychological in origin.

The damage to the brain which causes PCS is on a microscopic level. It has not been until recent year that technology began to emerge which can give us a better understanding of brain injury. The new evidence is pointing, once again, to physical damage as the root cause of PCS.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, contact an experiencedbrain injury attorney today.

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